THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Paparazzi

This elegant Italian establishment in the Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel is not your usual airport hotel restaurant.• Buy the book A Day in the Life of the Paparazzi with photographs by Henry Flores

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Paparazzi Restaurant Review

: Hollywood stars jetting off on vacations or to shooting locations are often photographed by the paparazzi at LAX airport, hence the name and theme of this restaurant at the nearby Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel. At Paparazzi Ristorante & Chophouse, guests are also greeted by cameras, but no need to be concerned as they're in a display case along with wine corks. This is a well-lit establishment where guests can actually see the décor, read the menu and don't have to use their imagination to discern the food --- unlike many places where it can be unpleasant. The room is comfortable and spacious, with black booths, a handful of red-leather chairs and white tablecloths, and a welcome absence of noise. (Part of the dining room can be closed off for private events.) Lining the walls are large-scale images taken by celebrity photographer/author Henry Flores. Executive chef Ressul Rassallat and chef de cuisine Juan Hernandez, a longstanding part of the kitchen team, present a menu of elegant Italian cuisine. Start with the popular salad of watermelon, heirloom tomatoes and goat cheese, or octopus with gigante bean salad, celery, tomato confit, spicy peperoncino sauce and lemon oil. Several pastas are on offer, including hand-rolled garganelli with Italian sausage. Grilled lamb chops are accompanied by Sardinian couscous and caponata, while branzino is presented on a bed of fingerling potatoes, olives, green beans, cherry tomatoes and citrus tossed with blood orange vinaigrette. Finish with the Nutella panna cotta or the whisky crème brûlée. The somewhat-limited wine list, composed mostly of Italian and California labels, is complemented by traditional and house cocktails such as The Capone. More offerings are available at the Love Lounge next door. If you missed the kitchen hours, the Lobby Bar will feed you until 1 am. Food and beverage manager Romain Lescaon oversees the friendly, dedicated staff, many of whom regulars may recognize from back when the restaurant was still Shula's 347.